MWD must show whether its rates are tied to the cost of its services

May 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A San Francisco Superior Court judge on Wednesday, April 24 ordered the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to produce information no later than May 10 that shows how it allocates its costs to rates or admit it does not have any evidence to support its current allocation of its costs to its rates.  The order followed a Tuesday hearing on the Water Authority’s motion to compel MWD to answer discovery and granted the Water Authority’s motion in its entirety.  Before the Court’s ruling, MWD had refused to respond to requests by the San Diego County Water Authority asking MWD to show what evidence it has to support its claims that its rates reflect its cost of providing its services.

October 23, 2012 (Otay) -- Three candidates are running for Otay Water District’s seat 2. ECM sent questionnaires to all three candidates. Only the incumbent, Mitch Thompson, responded. Thompson was appointed to fill a vacancy and his answers are below. Other candidates are David Krogh, a business financial analyst, and Tracy Lopez, an immunization program manager. 

August 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego County residents’ support for funding seawater desalination or other investments to enhance the reliability of the region’s water supplies has increased compared to last year, a new public opinion poll commissioned by the San Diego County Water Authority has found.

• A Q&A on San Miguel’s situation
• Tony Gwynn joins group seeking to buy Padres (10 News)
• San Onofre future hinges on finding cause of abnormal tube wear (Sacramento Bee)
• San Diego ranked least expensive city in state to do business (10 News)
• La Mesa may welcome wineries and breweries (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa Village Development (La Mesa Today)
• No option at all! (for condo/apartment residents with multiple smart meters) (KUSI Turko Files)
• Walmart Neighborhood Market planned for La Mesa
• Countywide water rates could rise nearly 10% (UT San Diego)
• Grossmont baseball coach Jim Earley quits amid parent accusations (La Mesa Patch)
• Wounded officer asked `Is this my time?’ (UT San Diego)

• CA Senate passes bill for self-driving cars (Los Angeles Times)
• CA Senate passes bill that limits salaries at CSU (Sacramento Bee)
• California Democrats balk at deeper cuts for state’s poorest residents (Sacramento Bee)
• Purple Super Pac launched to support registered Independents (Sacramento Bee)
• U-T: State Plans Big Changes To Testing, Instruction

By Jeremy Los

July 28, 2011 – A community information meeting held by Helix Water District last week turned into a discussion of employee benefits and pensions amid public outcry over raising water rates.

District officials provided citizens with a Power Point explanation and breakdown of the statistical reasons behind the proposed increase.  Those explanations didn't wash, however, with some irate residents who argued that the District should cut expenses rather than impose another rate hike on consumers in today's challenging economy.

July 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District will hold an informational public meeting on the proposed water rate increase on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

By David Smyle

April 23, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Wednesday April 20th, the Helix Water Board on a 4-1 vote approved the two year MOU negotiated by the employees for the employees with no rate payer representation. That’s right! Mark Weston and Lisa Irvine, employees of Helix Water were appointed by the Board to represent the ratepayers’ interest in the negotiations with the employees.

Helix Water District raises rates in contentious hearing

By Kristin Kjaero

August 19, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Get used to it. We’re going to pay more each year,” Helix Water District Board member John Linden told the audience, shortly before the board voted 3-2 to raise the three-tiered rate structure an average of 8% more starting in November. Last year rates increased 21+%.

Discussion at the rate increase hearing was lively to say the least, as tempers frayed and the public, General Manager and Board members accused one another of not being truthful and of micromanaging. The room was filled to capacity, and occasionally members of the audience called out and were gaveled back to order. A La Mesa Policeman stood in the back quietly observing.

By Kristin Kjaero

February 14, 2010 (La Mesa) -- How will water rates change as of July 1, 2010, and will individual water budgets be imposed as part of the process?

The Helix Water District (HWD) Board will discuss these February 17 and March 17, 2010 respectively.

Update April 28: Despite strong public protest, Helix Water District approved eliminating agricultural meters for 900 customers and accepted other staff recommendations. Watch for details soon.

By Miriam Raftery April 26, 2009 (La Mesa)—Deluged by hundreds of calls from residents irate about steep rate increases for heavy water use, and by many seeking irrigation meters to qualify for cheaper water rates, Helix Water District’s Board of Directors will convene a special meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, April 27th.